Custer State Park and The Highest Peak

Our Saturday wanderings took us to Custer State Park.

Custer State Park is a park and wildlife reserve in the Black Hills of southwestern South Dakota, USA. The park is South Dakota's largest and first state park, named after Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer. The area originally started out as sixteen sections, but was later changed into one block of land because of the challenges of the terrain.  The park began to grow rapidly in the 1920s and gained new land. During the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps built miles of roads, laid out parks and campgrounds, and built three dams that set up a future of water recreation at the park. In 1964 an additional 22,900 acres (93 km2) were added to the park. The park covers an area of over 71,000 acres (287 km2) of hilly terrain and is home to many wild animals.

Earlier this week, while we were hiking to Roosevelt Tower, we came to a placard that pointed out Harney Peak.  It noted that Harney Peak was the highest peak east of the Rockies all the way to the Pyrenees mountains of Spain.  We decided then and there that we needed to climb to the top of Harney Peak.

So, Saturday was about hiking the peak and getting a good look at Custer State Park.

FIRE TOWER AT THE PEAK

YOU CAN  SEE THE TOWER JUST LEFT OF MIDDLE.  I TOOK THIS SHOT ON THE WAY DOWN.  WE STILL HAD A GOOD HOUR OF HIKING LEFT.

The trailhead for the peak starts at Sylvan Lake.  We got to the Lake, got the girls ready and made our way to trail #4.  Hikers can start at trailheads 4 or 9 and eventually get to the top.  We chose to start at 4, and link up with 9 near the top. To do this, we had to skirt along a couple of other trails but this route allowed us to make a loop vs taking an out and back hike.  The entire hike was a bit over seven miles and is considered strenuous.  The trail is well marked but a park trail map is a good idea.  It goes deep enough into what is considered back country, that hikers are instructed to register their hike.  There is actually a box with forms and pencils that allows for this.  The box with the registration is located about 2.5 miles into the hike and along the trail.

The hike has many hills but the footing is good and the scenery is gorgeous.  The rock formations rise up and mark the landscape in all directions.

THIS SIGN IS NEAR THE HIKER REGISTRATION STATION

GMAN AND HIS DOG

A SHOT OF THE MANY SPIRE TYPE ROCK FORMATIONS

EVIDENCE OF A FOREST FIRE

BEAUTIFUL GREENS AND BLUES

We were also able to spot a bit of wildlife.

PRARIE DOG

MULE DEER

CHIPMUNK.  THESE LITTLE CRITTERS DRIVE PENNY LANE CRAZY

The final ascent to the peak is fairly steep but the view from the top is so worth the work.

NOT THE HIGHEST WE HAVE HIKED BUT "THE HIGHEST" EAST OF THE ROCKIES

GREAT VIEWS OF CUSTER PARK, THE BLACK HILLS AND BEYOND

We had a bit of a snack at the top and started making our way back down.  Trail 9 made for a great trip.  Penny Lane hiked with great enthusiasm and Annie had a hike-n-haul day.  She hiked a bit and I hauled a bit.

ANNIE IN HER DOGGIE BAG

We got back to the car and decided to take a drive along the Wilderness Loop.  The wilderness loop is an 18 mile drive through Custer that allowed for a bit of wildlife viewing.

LOTS OF BUFFALO

PRARIE DOGS ABOUND

WILD BURRO

If you travel to Custer State Park, try to allow time to explore.  There are several hiking trails that range from easy to strenuous.  There are also quite a few narrow winding roads that take you through the park. Two notable roads are listed below.

Needles Highway is a spectacular drive through pine and spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen and rugged granite mountains.

The road's name comes from the needle-like granite formations which seem to pierce the horizon along the highway.

Iron Mountain Road

The Iron Mountain Road is a work of art in itself. The highway connects Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The highway passes through some of the most beautiful scenery in the Black Hills and including three tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore in the distance. The road is famous for the "Pigtail Bridges" that allows travelers to drop or gain altitude quickly.

Both of these roads should not be missed.  They are engineering marvels and cut through the landscape with amazing precision.

ONE OF SEVERAL LOW, NARROW TUNNELS CUT THROUGH THE ROCK

A VIEW OF MOUNT RUSHMORE FROM IRON MOUNTAIN ROAD

Custer State Park is a worthy destination.  Visitors can easily spend a full day exploring.

We'd had a very full day and made it back to Lewis before dark.  We were tired and hungry so dinner and relaxation were the only other things on our schedule.

Another great day in this thing we call life.